INTERVIEW WITH ANDRII TARASENKO FOR THE “FINNISH RESISTANCE MOVEMENT”

The Ukrainian revolution of winter 2013-2014 is a rather controversial event for the European right activistis, especially for the participation of nationalists. Much attention should be paid to the almost mythical organization that was in the vanguard of the anti-government confrontation in the center of Kyiv. It is with her political leader Andrei Tarasenko (well known in nationalist circle as “Pilipas”) that we are presenting interviews today…

– The “Right Sector” or “Pravyi sektor” was repeatedly mentioned in the media during the events of the winter Maidan, and, as is known, Ukrainian nationalists played a big role in the revolution. So, if we return to November-December 2013 – then the Ukrainian revolution began. And then, the “Right Sector” was also born… Tell us how the organization was formed?

– First, I note, we do not agree with the official terminology about the events of the Maidan. After all, the Maidan is the insurrection itself!

So, about the formation of the movement “The Right Sector”… First, representatives of some Ukrainian right-wing organizations gathered in the center of Kyiv. Jointly analyzed the political reality in the state and decided that the mafia of Yanukovych from power should be chased as soon as possible, because it may be too late. This mafia reached out to the Kremlin’s embrace and ambitiously gained capital and influence. Ukrainians risked the power of the oligarchic clan of Yanukovych. The situation urgently required the cessation of this trend.

In the end, on the Kyiv Maidan Nezalezhnosti on November 28, 2013, the “Right Sector” was proclaimed. First as a separate stock. “Everyone who has nationalistic views – to us!” We did not just make our camp near the democratic camp of the democrats, intended for people with nationalistic views. After all, the “Right Sector”, from the very beginning, recognized only a radical way of fighting the regime. This was attractive for many citizens of Ukraine. It was obvious then that a police state with a real mafia power had already been built, which would not give a chance for other forms of struggle. We can say that the situation in Ukraine itself made us organize.

– As far as is clear, the Maidan started quite suddenly. Although it was predictable after the long domination of political imbalances, corruption and some previous events, let’s say the Orange Revolution. How would you describe the situation in which ordinary Ukrainians lived before the winter Maidan? Did they believe that politicians had to speak, and the situation after Maidan has changed in this matter?

– The usual Ukrainians and citizens of other nationalities did not understand the prospect both then and now. As for social and economic issues, the citizens of Ukraine were not satisfied with their prosperity, both then and now. The society felt the need for a different approach to public policy. Perhaps more intuitive…

– Has the Maidan suddenly happened? As stated above, it is a consequence of radical sentiments in Ukrainian society. Therefore, no matter how liberal “leaders” of the Maidan then did not try to stop the people’s determination, no one succumbed to their persuasion?

– Exactly! Now the mood in society is somewhat similar! Indeed, the revolution never took place. There is no prospect and no material prosperity. One oligarchic clan in government was replaced by another. The authorities do not want to win the war in the Donbas (because government consists of people of trade, not state officials!). The people of Ukraine, of course, do not agree with this state of affairs and are inclined to revolt. Unfortunately, in such an acute emotional state the people are easy to manipulate. Say: “I’m against government!” And the people immediately sympathize with you. But, honestly I hope, the “Right Sector” and supporters of the nationalist camp will not allow the Ukrainians to be stupefied. That new Ukrainian order, in which we believe and who are ready to create, will not allow more anti-national power of traders!

– In Europe we heard several times the view that Ukrainian nationalists were drawn to the “wrong revolution”, which went the wrong way, because the oligarchs were in charge of the process and are still in power. Having received a certain wisdom after the revolutionary events, do you think something could be done differently? Perhaps you could advise us how to implement the revolution correctly?

– Let’s first orient ourselves – what were the events of the Maidan. Most of the people fiercely could not tolerate power. Forces of different origin offered these people their own recipe for struggle. But in fact it was the satisfaction of the needs of a part of the population. No one was dragging anyone, anywhere you want! Everyone tried to saddle, like surfers, a wave of public outrage.

The most important wisdom from those events is a position that we often repeat: “The fight against only makes sense only if it is part of the struggle for”. To change life for the better, we need a full-fledged national revolution, and not just a street uprising! It is necessary to be ready not only to reset the malevolent government, but also to restructure order in the state. In order for your revolutionary changes in the state to be effective, first understand this position.

– As for the brief analysis of the 2013-2014 revolution, do you have any comments on the term “wrong revolution”? Many of us saw in the Maidan a risky moment for Ukraine to fall under EU rule. It seemed that a lot of opportunists were lobbying for the interests of Brussels and tried to use the revolution for this. How do Ukrainians today look at the EU, do they seek to enter there and have people’s views changed on this situation?

– As I said at the beginning, we do not agree with the official terminology around the Maidan. It was created by neoliberal liars. To determine the revolution is right or wrong with respect to the events of 2013-2014, there must be a revolution itself. Despite the mainstream rhetoric, the revolution is something completely different from it was then. This is the change of people in power, the structure and the system of power itself. The popular impulse is only one of the components of the revolutionary process, but not the only one. What is a revolution? For example, there was the 2nd Spanish Republic, and the Spanish State Francisco Franco appeared. Or was the Russian Empire, and became the Ukrainian People’s Republic and dozens of other states, like, say, independent Finland…

I emphasize, the Maidan was a glorious Ukrainian uprising, not a revolution!

As for the European Union: firstly, there were 90% of ordinary people indignant at the Maidan; Secondly, yes, the so-called “Euro-optimism” prevails among the whole society, but when Brussels began to “express concern” with the war in Ukraine instead of military assistance, then many citizens changed their attitude towards the EU. Now most Ukrainians, unfortunately, are confusing the notions of Europe and the EU. They look at the EU as a standard in everything. Fortunately, with each passing day, the number of such people is gradually decreasing!

– In the beginning, the oligarchs were mentioned, for, for example, in Scandinavia, a very large part of the media belongs to concentrated forces (money bags) that also control certain political forces. And what about Ukraine? Does the government have influence over the media?

– Let’s just say that many representatives of the regime in Ukraine directly or indirectly own certain, but not all, media resources. Here is the President’s “5 Kanal”, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine – the television channel “Espreso.tv” and more. Accordingly, officials in Ukraine do not suffer and have never suffered from a lack of information support. And this is because only those groups that control the media can come to government. So it turns out that in Ukraine the oligarchs rule the ball.

– What modern global threats do you consider harmful to the Ukrainian nation?

– Negative from globalization is quite a lot. At the first places for harmfulness – this is the spread of the ideology of neoliberalism and economic globalization.

But, I think, the most harmful is the economic component of globalization. Certain countries and corporations are more likely to come into force and pressure on the countries of the “second world” and “third” so that they open economic borders as soon as possible. And what is “without borders” trade? It is always a competition on equal terms. How can a powerful global corporation and a modest domestic firm compete on an equal footing? No way! It’s like a boxing match between a heavyweight husband and a girl of the lightest weight. We need state help! National production disappears altogether. Corporations establish their influence, dictate their conditions to the labor market, abusing the dominant position. And further, as experience shows – labor emigration of the population abroad.

Ukraine in times of global economic inequality is gradually losing the title Ukrainian nation. Its representatives leave their native lands in search of a better life and are dissolved in other people’s societies. And these processes the state must resist, and not contribute, as it is now happening. The state should, above all, be an assistant for national small and medium-sized businesses. The state should be an assistant for national production, while at the same time suppressing monopolies. But our current state does not know about this, because the Western “partners” told her about the “holiness”, “divinity” of the free global market.

– Now about the “Right Sector”. Please, tell us briefly about your main ideology, for which you are fighting?

– Our ideology is Ukrainian nationalism. Traditionalist, revolutionary nationalism such as he inherited from the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists.

What does it mean? First, we are supporters of the national revolution and the creation of the Ukrainian national state. Only under such conditions can the situation in Ukraine be changed. All other recipes are not effective, the people are already convinced.

Secondly, with regard to geopolitical views, the “Right Sector” advocates the creation of the Baltic-Black Sea Union or Intermarium and the revival of Europe of the Nations.

– How has a small street movement developed its activities since the times of the Maidan until today?

– The “Right Sector” was a relatively small movement only within the Maidan. Throughout Ukraine there was a sea of our supporters. After all, it was the dream of the majority of Ukrainian society – to give the government of Yanukovych the teeth. That is, there was a “material” through which it was possible to build and develop the movement. However, over time, we realized that a large movement is not a sign of its effectiveness. People in the beginning were completely different, not all are inclined to daily dedicated activities, for which money is not paid. Simply put – volunteering. For many, Ukrainian nationalism was not an ideology, which should be based on every day, but with empty words.

The last 3 years have gone mainly to organizing work. It was very different from the management of nationalist organizations in the times of the Maidan. We, the leading link of the “Right Sector”, learned from mistakes, received invaluable experience and simply built the movement. We carried our structuring, increased the quality and activity of our organization. Strengthening discipline and demands turned the scattered numerous movement into a much qualitative structure with devoted members. However, it is necessary to work on the frame of the movement – there is no limit to perfection.

The military wing of the movement – Volunteer Ukrainian Corps “Right Sector” or DUK PS. Now it’s really an influential force on the front. We are proud of this! For the future we have many plans. We still have to work and work.

– How do they recruit new members in the “Right Sector”? Are there any special requirements for who want to be a member of the organization?

– Depending on where you want to go – in the military wing of the movement or in the sociopolitical. Among the requirements there is nothing so supernatural. You must first have a certain inner vocation for precisely this direction of the struggle for Ukraine.

In the “Right Sector” it happens that it is not the organization that is looking for members, but members are looking for an organization. So, if you want to organize a fight in accordance with the basics of Ukrainian nationalism – you go near us. You are not interested in this, you know everything better than we do – we do not follow the path. It’s simple!

– How do you fund your activities?

– In truth, we survive as we can. There are representatives of small and medium-sized businesses who help us. But this is just a little money. We are not interested in large capital and will not be interesting through our anti-oligarchic positions.

– If you go back to the history of the organization, you can say something about the former leader Dmitri Yarosh? He suddenly began to move away from all nationalism, using great help from the Jewish community, advocating a multi-ethnic Ukraine. Has he left the organization with numerous membership because of a conflict of interests, because he began to defend the theses of his sponsors?

– In fact, Dmitry Yarosh is not engaged in defending any political positions, but is engaged in war. Yarosh considers, that for advantage of the front it is possible to co-operate though with the devil, and means and with Jews. This is his logic. Among his partners, indeed, quite ambiguous people.

The “Right Sector” could not agree with the style of the work of the then leader, so our ways diverged. And yes, not with “numerous membership” left the organization Yarosh, because a certain number of front-line soldiers and activists followed him for one reason or another. They created their own social movement. But we do not lose heart because of the leakage of personnel. The indicator of their constructiveness is activity, or rather, its absence. First of all, the organization lost its nationalistic roots. We do not regret that a split occurred.

– What types of activities are currently available in the “Right Sector”?

– The three main areas of activity of the “Right Sector”: work with young people; participation in war; social and political struggle. For each of these activities there is a structural subdivision.

Our mission is to combine different directions of struggle into one system. Only a systemic struggle will give a result – the national Ukrainian state. Like Finland for the Finns, so and Ukraine for the Ukrainians. Unite, comerades! We will win, there is no other way!